Peter Alliss knighthood petition launched

• Fan calls for Alliss to become a ‘Sir’
• Petition launched via Change.org site
• Hyder hopes to gather 100 different signatures

A golf fan has started an ambitious online campaign to get the BBC’s ‘Voice of Golf’, Peter Alliss, a knighthood.

Roger Hyder set up the online petition via the popular website Change.org. He is hoping to gather 100 e-signatures from his fellow golf fans in the hope that the powers-that-be in the Cabinet Office will take note and grant the honour to Alliss.

“Peter Alliss has raised millions of pounds for charity over the last 50-plus years and has helped improve the lives of thousands through his charity work,” reasons Hyder. “He is the ‘Voice of Golf’, has introduced thousands to the game of golf through his TV programmes such as ‘Round With Alliss’ and ‘Pro Celebrity Golf’, written more than 20 books, designed and built many golf courses around the world and is one of this country’s finest golfers having played in eight Ryder Cups.”

Hyder adds: “He has been nominated for a knighthood before but to no avail. It is time that he was made a ‘Sir’ in recognition of his charity work primarily and the game of golf second.”

Alliss, 84, won 24 times in a relatively successful career as a golfer but it is his work calling the shots rather than hitting them for which he is best known.

“As long as I feel bright enough, interested enough and they’re happy with what I’m doing, I’ll keep going.” Peter Alliss in bunkered

He has commentated on every Open since 1961 and, in 1978, became the BBC’s lead golf commentator, succeeding Henry Longhurst behind he mic.

Admired for his ‘rambling’ style, Alliss is widely expected to retire after this summers’ Open Championship, with the tournament to be broadcast live on Sky from 2016.

In a 2010 interview with Scottish Club Golfer’s sister title bunkered, he said: “I think that I will know when it is time for me to call it a day before anybody else does.

“As long as I feel bright enough, interested enough and they’re happy with what I’m doing, I’ll keep going.”

However, the bid may hit a snag given that Alliss has previously revealed that he turned down the offer of an OBE. “Honours like that should only go to people who are brave in battle or help others less fortunate than themselves,” he told The Guardian newspaper in 2004. “I was just doing a job. There’s nothing courageous or special about being a golf commentator.”

Peter Alliss petition :: how to sign

To add your signature to the petition to grant Peter Alliss a knighthood, log-on to www.change.org/p/award-peter-alliss-a-knighthood.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor